Joan Rivers 'seriously ill' in New York hospital

Joan Rivers, the acerbic 81-year-old US stand-up comic and television presenter, remains seriously ill in a New York hospital for a second day, her daughter says.

Rivers has been in a medically-induced coma at Mt. Sinai Hospital since going into cardiac respiratory arrest during outpatient vocal cord surgery on Thursday.

That day, her daughter and frequent co-star, Melissa, released a statement to E! News thanking family, friends and fans for their well wishes: "My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world. Her condition remains serious but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery."

Rivers reportedly stopped breathing while undergoing a medical procedure on her vocal cords.

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"Her condition remains serious, but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible," Melissa said in a statement released by the hospital.

"We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery."

As a result of her health crisis, Rivers' comedy gig at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, has been postponed.

Stars such as Charlie Sheen and Jesse Tyler Ferguson flooded Twitter with messages of support for Rivers and her family.

Actor Sheen wrote, "Please come back to us young lady," while Modern Family star Ferguson offered, "Sending all my love and prayers to my friend @Joan_Rivers right now."

Dear
@Joan_Rivers - praying for you. Please get well soon. We need you to keep us laughing! — Joan Collins (@joancollinsobe)
August 29, 2014

Other tweets poured in from Rosie O'Donnell, Larry King, Ellen DeGeneres, Zachary Quinto and Courtney Love, who wrote, "Hang in there @Joan_Rivers So many awful gowns are going to be worn this year as bait for you pull through. Love and prayers Court."